Spray booth



Nov 21, 1939.

E. GUSTAFSSON SPRAY Boo'r'fi Filed Dec. 5 Sheets-Sheet l J Ede/Zia? Etc fiastaffioib Nov. '21, 1939.

E. GUSTAFSSON SPRAY BOOTH Filed Dec. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnuemfw Nov. 21, 1939. 5 GUSTAFSSON v 2,130,536

SPRAY BOOTH Patented Nov. 21, 1939 SPRAY BOOTH Eric Gustafsson, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Blnh Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., g. corporation of Delaware Application December 1, 1937, Serial No. 177,563

13 Claims.

My invention relates to spray booths within which objects are coated by spraying them with liquid (or at least generally liquid) coating materials, and more particularly to the economical and eflective reclaiming of coating material particles from the portion of the spray and spray fumes projected past or deflected from the object toward .which the spray is directed.

In spray booths of this class it has long been customary to provide the object-housing part of the booth with an upright back or apron against which the fumes of the said further projected or deflected portion of the sprayed material will impact, and have a film or sheet of liquid flow downwardly along the forward face of the said booth back for absorbing the coating material particles of the fumes which reach the said booth back. It has likewise already been customary to guide such fumes out of the spray booth proper to a more rearward fume-, washing chamber, the lower part of which forms asettling tank for receiving material washed off the said booth back, and to provide means above this tank for removing material particles from the fumes which pass above the settling tank and which are then drawn upwards toward a -flue.

The last named means have usually included sprays, either of fresh water or of liquid drawn from-the settling tank, andspaced eliminator plates disposed at higher elevation than the said sprays, so that material-laden liquid reaching these plates will flow downward along the said plates and drip down into the settling tank.

However, the arrangements heretofore proposed for the just recited purposes have had the following shortcomings, the overcoming of which constitutes the main objects of my present invention:

0 (1) When the liquid used for flushing coating material particles ofi the surface of the spray booth back or apron issues from ports in a pipe, ports of quite small diameter are ample for affording the needed downwardly flowing fllm,

and the use of such small-diametered ports is highly desirable because of the cost of pumping an excessive quantity of the apron-flushing liquid. However, such otherwise suitable smalldiametered ports easily become clogged, thereby making the resulting fllm of liquid streaky and inadequate unless the ported pipe is frequently flushed out and the ports cleaned.

(2) The spray provisions commonly employed in the wash compartment of a spray booth usually allow an undesirable percentage of the fume material to be drawn up into the flue and wasted.

(3) Although the eliminator plates are usually at considerably higher elevation than the pipe from which the flushing liquid issues, the drip from these plates must flrst drop into the 5 settling tank in the lower part of the fumewash compartment, and thereafter must be foreibly pumped up to the said pipe unless fresh water is used for such flushing. Consequently,

a corresponding and considerable expense is in- 10 volved for the said pumping.

Illustrative of the manner in which I overcome the above recited objections and also attain other desirable advantages over the provisions heretofore proposed for similar purposes, 15

Fig. 1 is a frontelevational view of a spray booth embodying the invention, with parts broken away to'show interior construction;

' Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view in a vertical plane represented by line 2-2 in Fig. 1 20 of the drawings, with certain parts shown in side elevation;

Figs. 3 and 3a are fragmentary vertical transverse sectional views on an enlarged scale of altematlve forms of the trough and apron features of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the eliminator plates, taken in a plane represented by line 4-4 in Fig. 2 of the drawings;

Figs. 5, 6, '7, 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary ver- 30 tical sectional views showing alternative forms and arrangements of parts, corresponding more or less to Fig.2; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the spray breaking feature of the invention. 35

Referring more in detail to the drawings the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention is shown as a sheet metal structure comprising a booth or chamber I having a front opening 2, and a back wall 3. At the rear lower portion of the structure is a liquid tank 4, an end portion 5 (Fig. 1) of which extends out from the side of the structure, and is connected by way of a valved intake 6 to a liquid circulating pump 1 having an outlet or discharge pipe 8.

Intermediately of the front 2 and the back wall 3 of the structure is a transverse wall 9 in the form of an apron and constituting the back wall for the booth or spraying space. This apron has a rearwardly and downwardly curved lower 50 end portion Ill and an upwardly and rearwardly curved upper end portion ll with an upwardly extending flange- [2. From the top l3 of the booth, rearwardly and downwardly extends a wall portion or distributing plate I having its 55 lower edge suitably spaced from the curved wall portion II to provide therebetween a slot or slit I5 through which liquid, such as water, flows downwardly in the form of a sheet or curtain I6 over the front surface of the apron 9 to flush such surface with the liquid, as water, to prevent the adhering and accumulation of spray material to and on the front face of the apron. The space above and between the wall portions II and I4 constitutes a trough-I1 for receiving the liquid for flushing the forward or front face of the apron.

In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3. the apron 3 is substantially inclined rearwardly, and the slit I5 is quite narrow. As shown in Fig. 3a the apron 9a may be vertical or but slightly inclined rearwardly, and the slot I5a may be wider, as desired, the trough I'Ia otherwise having the parts I4a, Ila and I2a corresponding to the same numbered parts in Figs. 2 and 3.

With a normal supply of liquid in the trough IIa, the slit I5a is of such a width as to permit the down flow of the liquid through the slit I5a and over the front surface of the apron as fast as the liquid is received in the trough. In the case of using a narrower slit, as slit I5, the liquid may accumulate in the trough II, more or less, but preferably the slit is of such a width that the liquid distributed to the trough will fiow down the wall portion I4 or I4a through the slit and onto the apron to flow down the forward face of the apron in the form of a sheet or curtain.

Between the lower end portion I0 and the open top of the tank 4 is provided an air passage l8, the air flow being from the opening 2, through the booth I and through the passage I8, as shown by the arrows.

The space between the rear wall 3 and the apron 9 constitutes an uptake passage I9 for the cleaning of the air from suspended particles, fume and other material which, it is desired, should not reach the atmosphere and be wasted. The upper end of the passage I9 communicates with an eliminator chamber 20 in which is located an eliminator 2 I. This eliminator (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) extends across thewidth and along the length of the chamber 20, and is inclined or tilted downwardly from the rear wall 3 to the forward wall 3a of the chamber so that its forward end portion 22 is at a lower level or elevation than its rear end portion 22a. The chamber 20 is of greater depth than the uptake passage I 9 to provide space forwardly for the lower end portion 22 of the eliminator whereby this end portion will be located over and above the trough I 1 whereby the liquid flowing from the eliminator will fiow or drop down into the trough I1, and not into and through the passage I9 and into the tank 4.

The eliminator, however, may be oppositely tilted, as shown in Fig. 10, that is, tilted downwardly from the forward wall 3a to the rear wall 3 of the chamber 20 so that the forward end portion 22 is at a higher level or elevation than its rear end portion 22a. In this case liquid running along the elements of the eliminator will drip from lower end portion down into the uptake I9.v

The eliminator comprises a series of spaced corrugated plates 23 having zigzag portions 24 to provide therebetween tortuous air passages 25 for the upwardly flowing stream of liquid bearing air through the eliminator chamber 20 whereby the liquid or moisture carried by the air will adhere to the walls of the plates 23 and run or trickle down over the surfaces of these plates to the lower edges thereof. Byreason of tilting the eliminator the trickling down of the water will have a component movement or progression forwardly in the forms shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, or rearwardly inv the form of Fig. 10, so that as the liquid descends it will have progress toward the lower end of the eliminator and drop from the lower end portions of the plates into the trough II, or into the uptake passage I9 (Fig. 10)

The lower edges of these plates are so bent or curved as to form channels or troughs 26 in which the water running or trickling down the surfaces of the plates 23 accumulate or collect and along which the water flows to the lower end of the eliminator by reason of the latter being inclined or tilted. The rear and forward ends of the eliminator are respectively supported upon brackets 21 and 28 (in the form of angle bars) respectively secured to the inside of the back and front walls of the eliminator chamber 20.

The upper end of the chamber 20 communicates with an exhaust or discharge duct 29 leading to the atmosphere, this duct 29 having therein an exhaust fan 30 driven by a suitable power source, such as a motor 3|.

Within the uptake chamber I9 and extending transversely thereof are manifold pipes 32 and 33 to the sides of which are connected sprayers 34 and 35 for projecting divergent water sprays 36 and 31 for washing the uprising stream of air in the uptake chamber I9. The pipes 32 and 33 at an end thereof extend out through a side wall of the structure and are connected to pipes 38 and 39 in turn connected to a pipe 40 communicating with the pump outlet pipe 8. The other ends of the pipes 32 and 33 are suitably plugged, as by plugs 32a and 3311.

While in Figs. 1 and 2 the sprayers 34 and 35 are shown as projecting the sprays 36 and 31 downwardly, they may be turned so as to project the sprays 36a and 31a upwardly as shown in Fig. 8, or with the sprayers 34 projecting the sprays 36a upwardly, and the sprayers 35 projecting the sprays 3I downwardly as shown in Fig. 5, or in any other way as desired.

Connected to and arising from the pipe 32 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 10) are pipes 4| having at their upper ,ends impact type nozzles 42 for projecting water or other liquid against overhanging buttons 43 to effect horizontal or substantially horizontal sprays 44 in the form of circular sheets. These sprays are at a level higher than the trough I! or Ila so that some of the liquid will be projected or cast into the trough, or against the wall part I4, or a breaker (later described) to flow down into the trough I! or I'Ia, and to so direct the spray projected toward the wall part I4 or I4a as to obtain a substantially even or uniform distribution of the liquid along the length of such wall part I4 or No whereby a uniform continuous sheet I6 of liquid will flow over the apron. The spray sheets 44 are of such extent as to cover the whole cross-sectional area of the uptake whereby the uprising air therein will be thoroughly washed before reaching the eliminator.

Because of the sprays 44 being in the form of circular sheets whereby the liquid is projected in all radial directions in the plane of the sheet produced at each nozzle, much of the spray sheet is projected at various angles, as along the lines 52 shown in Fig. 11, and is so deflected from the wall portion I4 or I 4a, or the wall 3a, as to fall into the space in the chamber 20 above the uptake passage I9, and is lost so far as its use for supplying liquid for. the apron is concerned. To avoid this condition it is preferable to provide a breaker 5| (see Fig. 11) in the path of the forwardly projecting portion of the spray 44 to prevent deflection or splashing and to cause the liquid to trickle or flow down into the trough Il or Ila, as upon the wall part I4 or I411. The breaker 5| is preferably located above, as upon, the wall portion I4 or I 4a and is preferably in the form of a roll or coil of metal fabric, such as a coarse mesh screen, shown in end view in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 10. This breaker extends over the whole length of the wall I4 or I4a, for the full width of the chamber 20. It is held in place by suitable retaining elements, such as U shaped straps 53 passing around the breaker, as near the ends thereof, and having their ends 54 secured in any suitable way to the wall portion I4 or I4a,

as shown in Figs. 2, 6, '7 and 10. As the forward" portions of the sprays 44 impacts the breaker 5|, the jets are ballled and broken up to be further distributed, and the liquid trickles or flows down 1 the open work of the breaker to the wall I4 or I4a of the trough Il or Ila.

Locating the breaker on the wall portion I4 or I4a is also advantageous in that it is below the lower end portion of the eliminator (as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9) and hence will receive the drippings 49 to also baflie further distribute and break them up instead of their being splashed from the wall part I4 or I4a and into the chamber space above the uptake passage III.

In lieu of the spray means 4I4243 shown in Fig. 2, spray means of the type shown in Fig. 7 may be used, and-wherein are shown pipes 4Ia, suitably connected to the pipe 32, having at their upper ends spray heads 42a having a slit 43a in the forward side thereof for projecting or casting a substantially fiat spray 44a in the form of semi-circular sheets. Since the spray heads 42a are located at the rear near the rear wall 3, the

36a as shown in Figs, 5, 6, 8 and 9. These sprays are preferably projected to a sufficient height to impact the eliminator, and to drop from the eliminator, the forward portions of the sprays hitting the forward portions of the eliminators,

and dripping into the trough Il or Ila. In suchcase the eliminator acts as a breaker means to baiile, further distribute and break up the spray portions mentioned. Some of the forward portions of the sprays may not reach the eliminator but will fall or drop back into the trough .Il or Ila, as upon the plate or wall part I4 or I4a, as clearly shown inthe drawings. The use of the breaker 5I will not be necessary but may be used if desired. It is not necessary where the spray hits the eliminator because the eliminator plates 24 will act to break up the spray and cause the liquid to drip upon the wall part I4 or I4a of the trough Il or Ila, the eliminator in such cases,

acting also as a breaker.

In Fig. 6, in addition to showing the upward spraying against the eliminator, there is shown also pipes 4Ib connected to a pipe 55 extending horizontally across the uptake passage I9 and parallel to the pipes 32 and 33, and connected to the fitting 56 connecting the pipes 38, 39 and 40 together. At the upper ends of the pipes 4") are spray heads 4241 having spray slots 43a for forinator located as low as possible with respect to the trough. In Fig, 9 is shown such a structure, wherein the lower forward end portion 22 of the eliminator is immediately above the trough Il or Ila. The upward spray 36a impinges the plates 24 of the eliminator, is broken up thereby, and liquid trickles along the plates, and drips down in the trough Il or Ila, as upon the wall I4 or I40. as shown. More of the spray 36a is then available for supplying the flush liquid for the apron than in the case where the eliminator is located higher, as for example as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8.

In use the operator stands at the opening 2 with the spray gun 45 in his hand to project a spray 46 against the article to be coated. The article is suitably located or supported in what may be termed the spraying zone 41. The air flows in through the opening 2 past the operator and the work to the passage I8 and thence uppard in the uptake chamber III to the eliminator 2I and exhaust duct 29. The fumes given off from the spray will be drawn by the air and be washed out of the air as it passes through the water sprays.

Some of the spray from the gun will be projected past or deflected from the work toward the apron 9 into the liquid curtain or sheet I6 which carry the particles down into the tank 4 to settle therein-and thus be reclaimed. As the water flows down over the front surface of the apron it will be drawn by adhesion rearwardly along the curved portion I0, at the lower end of the apron, and will drop therefrom in the form of a spray 48 so that it will efiect a preliminary clean ing of the air in the passage I8.

It will be noted that the liquid for the curtain flows in a circuit from the trough Il through the slot I5 over the surface of the apron 9, in the tank 4, by way of the pump 1, and sprayers 42-43, a part of the spray of which being projected' into the trough Il.

The uprising air in the uptake chamber is washed by the liquid sprays36 and 31, or 38a and 31a, and also by the liquid sprays 44, or 44a to clean it of all fume and the like. The air then passes upwardly through the tortuous passages 25 between the plates 23 of the eliminator 2I whereby the liquid or moisture carried by the air will adhere to the walls of the plates 23 and run or trickle down the surfaces thereof and accumulate or collect in the inclined troughs or channels 26 to flow downwardly therealong and be discharged at the lower ends thereof and onto the wall part I4 or I 4a of the trough Il or Ila (or drop into passage I9 in the form shown in Fig. 10) for the purpose of assisting in supplying the water for the water curtain. The liquid spray portion (44) projected over the trough Il or Ila and against the breaker 5|, will be broken up and caused to trickle or flow down the breaker onto the wall part I4 or I4a of the trough Il or Ila.

To the pipe 8 is connected a valved pipe-50 from a source of liquid (not shown) for furnishing fresh liquid as may be desired or required.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but comprehends other constructions, arrangements of parts, details, features and the like without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention,

I claim:

1. In a spray booth having a spraying chamber, an air washing chamber communicating with the lower rear portion of said spraying chamber, a back wall for the spraying chamber and having as part thereof a generally upright apron toward which waste spray material is directed, and a liquid receiving tank in the lower part of the washing chamber and beneath the lower end portion of said apron, a liquid supplying device for flushing said apron comprising a liquid distributing plate disposed in the upper portion of said washing chamber at a higher elevation than said apron and in spaced relation to the upper portion of said apron to provide an opening for discharging liquidtherethrough and, over the upper portion of the forward face of said apron, a liquid spraying device disposed in said air washing chamber for washing the air passing therethrough, and a liquid projecting device located in an upper portion of said washing chamber about level with said plate to project liquid toward and against said plate to supply the liquid for flushing the front face of said apron.

2. In a spray booth having a spray chamber provided with a back wall having as a part thereof a generally upright apron toward which waste spray material is directed, and an upwardly extending air washing chamber behind the apron, a device for supplying liquid for flushing the forward face of the apron, comprising a troughlike structure having a wall part disposed in the upper portion of said washing chamber and in spaced relation to the upper end portion of the apron to provide an opening for the flow of liquid therethrough and over said front face of the apron, a liquid spraying device disposed in said air washing chamber for washing the air passing therethrough, and a liquid projecting device disposed in an upper portion of the washing chamber and located rearwardly of and at a higher level than said trough-like structure for projecting liquid toward said wall part to supply flushing liquid thereto.

3. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber. and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for fiushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, andliquid projecting means located in the upper. portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron.

4. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with 'a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting meansin said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron.

, 5. In a spray booth having spraying and wash,- ing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of saidapron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an eliminator so located in the upper portion of said washing chamber and above said last mentioned liquid projecting means as to drop liquid upon a portion of said distributing means at said upper of said openings for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow of Said apron- 6. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends-of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid pro-'- jecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron, and an eliminator so located in the upper portion of said washing chamber and above said last-mentioned liquid projecting means as to drop liquid upon said inclined plate for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron.

'7. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends 'of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said-openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising anvinclined eliminator located in the upper portion of said washing chamber and above said last mentioned liquid projecting means with the lower end of said eliminator disposed over a. portion of the distributing means at said upper of said openings for dropping liquid from said 1ower end of said eliminator upon said portion of said distributing means for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface 'of said apron.

s. In a sp y booth havi g sp a g and Wating chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from .said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried bythe air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquiddistributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined'plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elon-' gated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron, and an inclined eliminator located in the upper portion of said washing chamber and above said last mentioned liquid projecting means with the lower end of said eliminator disposed over said inclined plate for dropping of liquid therefrom upon said inclined plate for supplying liquid for lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said' apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron, and an eliminator so' located in the upper portion of said washing chamber and above said last mentioned liquid projecting means as to drop liquid upon said inclined platefor supplying liquid for, flushing said exposed surface of said apron, said eliminator having at its lower part collecting channels for receiving liquid trickling down in said eliminator, said channels being inclined .with the lower end portions thereof located above and over said inclined plate for liquid flowing along said channels to drop upon said inclined plate.

10. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between saidchambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron toflow downwardly in the form of. a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron, said liquid projecting means being provided with a narrow orifice for projection therethrough of liquid in the form of a horizontal sheet with a portion of said sheet being projected toward and against said inclined plate for distribution of said liquid over said inclined plate.

11. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and

wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end a of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying. the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is p ced vfrom the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows .to flush the exposed surface of said apron, a breaker on said inclined plate for scattering the liquid projected thereagainst from said liquid projecting means to distribute 'the liquid over said inclined plate.

12. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of saidopenings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried-by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward and against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron, a breaker on said inclined plate for scattering the liquid projected thereagainst from said liquid projecting means to distribute the liquid over said inclined plate, said liquid projecting means being provided with a narrow orifice for projection therethrough and therefrom of liquid in the form of a horizontal sheet with a portion of said sheet being projected toward and against said breaker to distributively scatter said liquid over said inclined plate.

13. In a spray booth having spraying and washing chambers with a generally upright apron separating said chambers and with openings provided between said chambers at the upper and lower ends of said apron whereby air may flow from said spraying chamber .to said washing chamber through the lower of said openings and flushing liquid may flow through the upper of said openings to and over the surface of said apron which is exposed to said spraying chamber and toward which spray fumes are directed, and wash fluid projecting means in said washing chamber for washing out the spray fumes carried by the air passing through said washing chamber, a device for supplying liquid for flushing said exposed surface of said apron, comprising a liquid distributing means above the upper of said openings for delivering a sheet of liquid across said opening to said apron to flow downwardly in the form of a sheet over said exposed surface of said apron, and liquid projecting means located in the upper portion of said washing chamber at about the level of the upper end of said apron for projecting liquid toward ,and

against a portion of said distributing means for supplying the flushing liquid delivered to said apron, said distributing means comprising an inclined plate the lower edge of which is spaced from the surface of said upper end portion of said apron for providing an elongated opening parallel to said apron and across and through which said sheet of liquid flows to flush the exposed surface of said apron, said distributing 10 means also including an eliminator comprising a plurality of generally upright and horizontally spaced corrugated plates to provide upward tortuous air passages therebetween, the lower edges of said plates being provided with collecting channels which slope downwardly toward a locus above and over said inclined plate for liquid flowing in said channels to drop upon said inclined 

